Formed initially as a way to bring their own brand of Desert Rock to the world, it wasn’t until 2021 that things began to flow for Bristol’s PEACH. With the additions of Tim Cooke and Ellie Godwin on vocals, the original pairing of drummer Andy Sutor and guitarist Jean-Paul Jacyshyn doubled in size. Ready to take the world by storm.
PEACH is their debut album, and it contains every drop of blood, sweat and tears that was left behind in the studio. Sticking to their guns and delivering as live a sound as possible, this introduction is like no other. Sounding more than able (and willing) to tear your mind apart. My ears might never recover, but that’s okay.
‘Dread’ kicks things off with a gritty set of drums pummelling away. Setting the tone as distorted guitars join in. Transporting you into a world of darkness. Ellie’s vocals burst into frame, clamouring over the instrumental with all sense of urgency to deliver an incensed message of respect and boundaries, creating this chaotic energy. It bleeds effortlessly into ‘Care’, which stutters its way into the limelight with guitars that are so angular and janky in the best possible way. I almost feel disgusted at how groovy I find it; it’s that filthy. And with a solo that sounds straight out of the QOTSA playbook, it becomes the catchiest on the album.
Lead single ‘Already There’ tackles the topic of manipulation and the uneasy feeling that comes with the growing realisation of it occurring. Its deeply layered mindset is projected with a punishing instrumental that does not slow down. Feeling always in motion as it tries desperately to keep up with the rapid-fire speed of the vocals. Which sound helpless as they get caught up in the waves of noise.
We are treated to a slight reprieve as ‘Long Mover’ offers a melodic, subdued intro that allows the ears to stop ringing for a moment or two. But soon after Ellie’s vocals grow in instability, we are lead into another thunderous riff that makes the intro feel like a lifetime ago. It does show how PEACH have the ability to deliver quieter moments, but they simply choose not to.
‘Bad Touch’ kicks things into gear with another instrumental steeped in grit and groove. Launching into a scathing attack on those who don’t respect boundaries. Its punchy rhythm collides nicely with the drawl of the vocals and leads into the sludgey world of ‘I’m Scared’. With its behemoth-esque riffs, the little retreats feel a little like a fever dream.
PEACH is a fantastic album, and as someone who grew up almost exclusively listening to Desert Rock, it is a welcome, modern addition to the genre. It holds all of the grittiness and brutality that helped the likes of Kyuss and QOTSA become so revered, while tearing through it in a speed that still hurts to keep up, even after repeated listens. This is one of the most exhilarating debuts of the year. This is a peach that doesn’t bruise easily.